IUCN seeks applications from qualified individuals to serve on its independent scientific and technical advisory panel to minimize impacts on western gray whales during offshore oil and gas development near Sakhalin Island in the Russian Far East. The application deadline is 20 January 2018.

2 experts in new and emerging technologies that are already or potentially applicable to gray whale research (including photo-id, monitoring of distribution, movement and behaviour via passive acoustics, UAVs, camera systems, tagging, etc.);

1 expert in responses of baleen whales to disturbance from various kinds of stressors such as chronic and acute underwater noise;

1 expert in whale feeding ecology (preferably including gray whales).

For the last 14 years, the WGWAP has been managed by IUCN as an independent scientific advisory body. The overall goal of the WGWAP is to provide objective advice on the conservation of western gray whales with a focus on those that feed off Sakhalin Island, just north of Japan.

The core principles for such IUCN panels are independence, transparency, accountability and engagement.

Full details on qualifications for the open positions and the application form are available on the IUCN HRMS portal.